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History of the 353rd Infantry Regiment, 89th Division, National Army, September, 1917-June 1919

62 Regimental History 353rd Infantry
His first shot killed the leader while his second shot wounded one
of the others. The point retreated in confusion. In the meantime,
Private Sundin had taken a good position with his automatic rifle
and was playing havoc with the advancing Germans. Sergeants
Hyndman and Hight had organized the remainder of the platoon in
a skirmish line reaching from the Metz road south two hundred yards
and were advancing on the opposing line, firing as they moved.
Major Rlackinton's foresight had prompted him to send a trench
mortar outfit from Headquarters Company to support the First Platoon, but unfortunately it was not in position to shoot to the extreme
left flank. The trench mortar seemed to be useless at this time, but
Corporal Westfall in charge was determined to get into action and
proceeded to support the mortar with his hands and knees, while
one of his men fed it with ammunition. The trench mortar played
on the German support with such deadly effect that it broke and ran,
followed by those in advance. Two dead Germans were left by the
fleeing troops, but they succeeded in carrying away the wounded.
Prisoners taken the next night said that the raiding party had carried back six of their dead and twelve wounded.
The situation met by Sergeant Hyndman and his platoon was a
serious one, for the Roche raiding party outnumbered his force at
least three to one and it was made up of special storm troops who
had had plenty of experience in this sort of work. The artillery
support given them was all they could ask for. The attack, coming
as it did in the early hours of the morning, was an acid test for new
troops and usually got results, but the conduct of the Third Battalion
men was worthy of veterans of several battles. They had met the
attackers aggressively and beaten them at their own game.
The rest of the men in the battalion made the important discovery
as a result of the bombardment that shell fire is not fatal to every
one within ear shot; that it takes a good many thousand rounds of
artillery ammunition to cause a few casualties. The ground and
trenches occupied by "K" and "L" companies were literally covered
with shell fragments after the raid but little damage had resulted.
On the whole, the net result of the raid was extremely valuable to the
men of the Third Battalion and only made them more confident of
being able to go over the top when the time came and drive the
Boche from the trenches that he had occupied so long.
On this occasion the battalion won the distinction of being the
first in the 353rd Infantry to come into actual contact with the enemy and draw German blood. Curiosity on the part of the Boche had
been satisfied. He had learned the caliber of the troops opposing
him and had received a sample of what to expect in the future. The
enemy had failed in his purpose to take American prisoners; "L"
Company suffered only five casualties; these were not serious enough
to be evacuated. The men had shown the true American fighting
spirit and had gained absolute confidence in themselves and in their
leaders.

62 Regimental History 353rd Infantry
His first shot killed the leader while his second shot wounded one
of the others. The point retreated in confusion. In the meantime,
Private Sundin had taken a good position with his automatic rifle
and was playing havoc with the advancing Germans. Sergeants
Hyndman and Hight had organized the remainder of the platoon in
a skirmish line reaching from the Metz road south two hundred yards
and were advancing on the opposing line, firing as they moved.
Major Rlackinton's foresight had prompted him to send a trench
mortar outfit from Headquarters Company to support the First Platoon, but unfortunately it was not in position to shoot to the extreme
left flank. The trench mortar seemed to be useless at this time, but
Corporal Westfall in charge was determined to get into action and
proceeded to support the mortar with his hands and knees, while
one of his men fed it with ammunition. The trench mortar played
on the German support with such deadly effect that it broke and ran,
followed by those in advance. Two dead Germans were left by the
fleeing troops, but they succeeded in carrying away the wounded.
Prisoners taken the next night said that the raiding party had carried back six of their dead and twelve wounded.
The situation met by Sergeant Hyndman and his platoon was a
serious one, for the Roche raiding party outnumbered his force at
least three to one and it was made up of special storm troops who
had had plenty of experience in this sort of work. The artillery
support given them was all they could ask for. The attack, coming
as it did in the early hours of the morning, was an acid test for new
troops and usually got results, but the conduct of the Third Battalion
men was worthy of veterans of several battles. They had met the
attackers aggressively and beaten them at their own game.
The rest of the men in the battalion made the important discovery
as a result of the bombardment that shell fire is not fatal to every
one within ear shot; that it takes a good many thousand rounds of
artillery ammunition to cause a few casualties. The ground and
trenches occupied by "K" and "L" companies were literally covered
with shell fragments after the raid but little damage had resulted.
On the whole, the net result of the raid was extremely valuable to the
men of the Third Battalion and only made them more confident of
being able to go over the top when the time came and drive the
Boche from the trenches that he had occupied so long.
On this occasion the battalion won the distinction of being the
first in the 353rd Infantry to come into actual contact with the enemy and draw German blood. Curiosity on the part of the Boche had
been satisfied. He had learned the caliber of the troops opposing
him and had received a sample of what to expect in the future. The
enemy had failed in his purpose to take American prisoners; "L"
Company suffered only five casualties; these were not serious enough
to be evacuated. The men had shown the true American fighting
spirit and had gained absolute confidence in themselves and in their
leaders.